Gate



Aug v8, 1950 c. TILBURY 2,518,260

GATE

Filed Feb. 15, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /7 'Mm' 4 i-lL- I--ll llllllllllll Aug. 8, 1950 L. c. vTU BURY 2,518,260

GATE

s sheets-sheet 3 Filed Feb. l5, 1947 Patented Aug. 8, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y' j 2,518,260 v i Y GATE Lyle C. Tilbury, Hunt, Tex.

Application February 15, 1947, Serial No. 728,835

(Cl. 35i-22) 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a gate.

An object of the invention is to provide a gate for roadways which will be normally maintained in closed position but which may be readily opened by a motor vehicle to permit passage of the vehicle and will be temporarily latched in opened position so that it will not be liable to strike the vehicle in closing, with means for automatically releasing the'latchv to allow the gate to swing to closed position.

:In addition to the novel means for latc'hing the gate open the invention also includes as an improvement a novel type of trolley hereinabove referred to for releasing the latching means to allow the gate to swing to closed position when opened. L

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingl specification which is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is -a side view of the gate shown in closed position and partly in section.

' Figure 2 is a top, plan view of the gate shown in closed position showing the latching mechanism partly broken away.

' Figure 3 is a side elevation of the gate shown in open position and partly in section.

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure l.' Y

Figure 46 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a rear elevation of the gate latching mechanism showing the-roller in ,final latched position, and e Vf g Figure 8 is a rear elevational view of the gate latching mechanism -showing the gateV roller approaching latched position. y Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numeralsA of reference desig-v nate the same parts in each of the fgures, the numerals I and 2 designate 'the top and bottom bars, respectively, of the gate. j

In the present illustration these bars are secured at theirrrear ends. to the upperand lower ends, respectively, of the rear bar 3. AThe lower end of thebar v3 is extendedbeneath therbottom bar 2 and is formed intoa tapering spindle 4.

' yThe forward ends-of the topvand bottombars I and -2 are securedto the front bar 5 of -the gate. Y t, ,J 4 v y,

The parts hereinabove described are preferably formed of metal and-'may beY welded or otherwise secured wgether- The gate is hinged to an upstanding post 6 in the following manner: a ratchet plate I is welded,` or otherwise secured to the post 6 near the 'lower end thereof and is provided with a central socket 8 in which the sp-indle 4 is'seated. There is a U-bolt 9 whose shanksvare externally threaded and extended through the top of the post 6 and are clamped thereto by clamp nuts I0, I0 which are threaded onto the shank of the U.bolt 9, as

shown in Figures 1 and 2. Welded, or otherwise clamp nuts I3, I3.

secured, to the top bar I near its rear end there is a tubular anchor II and fitted throughk this anchor there is the outwardly threaded shank of the eye bolt I2 which is clamped in position by The eye of the bolt I2 is elongated, as best sho-wn in Figure 2, andthe U-bolt 9 is linked through it. This elongated eye allows the forward end of the gate to have a limited range of vertical movement.

Welded, or otherwise secured, to the rear bar 3 and to the bottom bar 2 there is. a forwardly extended plate I4 which also forms a brace for the gate and swinging from this plate, with its upper end pivoted thereto, there is a swinging latch l5 whose lower end extends beneath said platt.k

The operative margin of the ratchet plate 1 is formed with the ratchet teeth I6 theteeth on each side of this plate being pitched in op.- posite directions, or rearwardly, and the forward margin of the ratchet plate l between the series of oppositelyrpitched teeth I6 is formed with an arcuate notch I1.

Secured to the underside of the ratchet plate l, beneath the notch I1 and extending forwardly beyond said plate theren is a guide member.v I8 whose outer end is upturned and its inner side formed with a convex bearing face I9 which has the same curvature as the notch Il and is spaced therefrom to form a guide. v

Also pivoted to the plate I4 and in alignment behind the latch I5 there is a latch releasing lever 20 y'whose lower end is formed with'a for,- wardly extended striker 2| arranged to strike the latch I5 when the lever 2n is actuated.

There is a ball track 22 near the topof the r gate'whose ends are secured to the rearend front bars 3 and 5, respectively..l A y y .v f 1 l As is clearly illustrated in VFigure .4, this ball track is preferably in the form of an inverted channel with' theV margins of its side flanges gins, as is clearly indicated in Figures l, 3 and 6.

As will be noted from an inspection of Figure 1, the track is mounted on the gate so that it will decline slightly forwardly when the gate is closed but .when the gate is open, as shown in Figure 3, on account of the hinge connection between the gate and the post 6, as above described, the free end of the gate will be elevated and the track 22 will decline rearwardly, or toward the post 6.

Out beyond ,the free, or forward, end of the gate, there is the upstanding post 24 which is provided with a rearwardly extended stop 25 and beneath said stop there is a latch plate 26 having an upwardly ilared notch 2'? providing with the guide faces 28, 28 on each side of said notch and said latch plate 26 is provided with the downwardly diverging guideways L29., 29.

The forward end of the bottom bar 2 of the gate is extended beyond the front bar and is formed into a spindle 3D on which the roller 3| is retained byemeans of a suitable `retainer, such as a cotter *When the gate vis in normal, or closed, position the roller 3l will -r-est in the -notch V235' 'beneath the Astop 25, as-shown in Figure 7. The gate is equipped with a suitable push plate, orfbumper plate, as 33, one Von each side vand upon lateral pressure being exerted jagainst the gate the roller SPW-ill ride Aup aiong the opposing faces 28 and out of the notch 21 and the gate may be swung open. vHOntlie other hand as the gate swings Ytoward closed `position the yroller 3l will ride up along the rcorresponding guideway 29 correspondingly elevating the forward, or free, end of the gate.

This is vpermitted by reason of the oblong eye of 1the'U -bolt l2. 'In order to prevent the movement of the gate from carrying the roller 3l across the-notch 21 the stop 25'has been positioned so that the roller 2l will come into contact within-as shown in Figure 8, and the closing movement lof the gate-will be stopped and the roller 3l will drop down into, and be retained in, thefnotch '21,1as`indicated in Figure 7.

When amotor vehicle approaches the gate its front bumper will'come into contact with th-e cpposing bumper plate 33 and the gate will be forced open. As the gate moves toward `open pcsition the lswinging latch t5 will ride lpast the teeth l5. `Centrifugal force ywill 'hold the spherliu cal weight 23 at the outer end of the track 22 as the Ygate swings open land when the gate has reached the limit of its movement toward open positionthe latch l5 will engage lbehind the 'corresponding tooth I5 and prevent `the gate from swinging 'back vto lclosed position and possibly striking'against the vehicle bef-ore the latter has cleared the gate; however, the weight 23 will thereupon move along the track 22 which, with thegate opened, Awill decline rearwardly and said weight will strike the upper end of the releasing lever 2B 4forcing 'said upper end rearwardly and forcing the lower end thereof forwardly and causing the striker 2l tocome into contact with, and release, the swinging latch -l 5 -whereuponth-e gate will be free to swing on to 'closedposition As the gate moves toward Vclosed position'the striker 21 will vremain in Contact with said'latch and will hold it outwardly so that it will not again engage with one of the teeth I 6 to stop the vclosing movement Aof the gate. A's the gate approaches vits iinal closed position the lower end of the latch l5 will come into Contact with the convex bearing face `H! and -saidlatch will be moved radially inwardly relative to the plate 1 and will force the lower end of the releasing lever 20 in the corresponding direction and when said releasing lever passes center it will remain in said last indicated position, as shown in Figure l, until again actuated and the latch I5 will finally come to rest in the notch l1 as indicated in Figure 5. The weight 23, upon movement of the gate to closed position will move outwardly toward the free end of the gate to the position indicated in dotted lines :in .Figure l. The range-of movement of the lever 2U`is limited by the contact of a cross- Vpin 34, through its upper end, with the inwardly turned margins of track 22.

It is obvious that the gate may be swung in either direction to open position so that it may be'openedby a vehicle traveling in either direcltion.

The drawings and description are illustrative merely while the broad principle of the invention will be dened by the appended claims.

What I claimis:

l. rlhe.combination lwith agate posa-fof agate hinged to the :post to .swing `about an 'upright -axis into lopen `or `closed posi-tion, .a :ratchet plate `vfixed relative to the '.post adjacent its .lower end ion which the gate 'is vmounted rto pivot, lsaid 'plate having marginal :ratchet Ateeth, a latch on the gate Aarranged-:to .engage aitootn of `the plate when the lgate is 'in yopen `position to latch the .gate open, latch releasing means "including pareleasing element movably :supported `on the vgatezin cooperative engagement with-said latch and impactvmeanszon the gate movable iby gravity upon opening --of :the gate into contact with saidreleasing elementfto automatically release :the 'latch to allow the gate to swing to closed position.

Y2. The combi-nation with a ygate-post, of agate, means :for hinging thegatevto the Tapper end of the post, a Iratchet plate-fixed relativ-e to the lower end -of the post, `means,pivotally connecting the gate to the ratchet plate, a llatch pivote'd to 'the gage and lengageaflole with saidratchet plate when the gateisfinopen :position to latch the gate open, a latch releasing element :on the gate, and .an impact vloody movable along the gate, when the gate is inlopen `.position to actuate said .releasing elementto eiect release of the latch Vto lallow the gate to swi-ngto closed position.

3. 'The combination Vwith a gate post, of a ratchet plate xed i-n "position relative to fthe lower end lo thepost, .a gate one end of which is pivotally mounted on `said plate, means for connecting saidend of the gate tothe upper end of the post ywlfiereby the-gatemay `swing about .an upright axis to open or closed position, means on the :gate and plate, respectively, arrangedto 'interlock to temporarily'hold the gate in open position, said means including a latch, a release element on the gate normally in 'inactive .position and lari-impact element on the gate movable by gravity, lwhen the gate is open, lfinto-'contact with said element `to actuate the same into contact with the latch to releasefsaid interlocking means to allow the gate to swing to closed position.

' 4. The combination with agate post, -of la ratchet plate fixed in lposi-tion relative to the lowerend of the postfa gate one vend of which 'is pivotally mounted -on said plate, means for connectingsaidend of the gatevto the upper end of `the post whereby the gate-may swing about an upright axis to open or closed position, means on 'the gate and plate, respectively, arranged to interlock to temporarily vhold 'the gate in open position, said means including a -latchna release element movably supported on the gate in cooperative engagement with the latch and on the gate normally in inactive position and an impact element on the gate movable by gravity, when the gate is open, into contact with said element to actuate the same into contact with the latch to release said interlocking means to allow the gate to swing to closed position, and means arranged to be contacted by the latch and adapted to actuate the latch, as the gate approaches closed position, to move said releasing element to its original inactive position.

5. The combination with a gate post of a gate supporting element xed relative to the lower end of the post, a gate pivotally supported on said element and having a hinged connection with the upper end of the post whereby the gate maf,7 swing about an upright axis into open or closed position, a track on the gate, an impact body movable along the track, interlocking means carried by said supporting element and the gate and including a latch engageable with the supporting element, when the gate is open, to latch the gate in open position, a releasing element pivotally mounted on the gate one end of which is associated With the track and whose other end is in alignment with the latch, said releasing element being normally inactive and being arranged to be actuated by said impact element, when the gate is open, to move the impact element into contact with the latch to release the same to permit the gate to close.

6. The combination with a gate post of a gate supporting element fixed relative to the lower end of the post, a gate pivotally supported on said element and having a hinged connection with the upper end of the post whereby the gate may swing about an upright axis into open or closed position, a track on the gate, an impact body movable along the track, interlocking means carried by said supporting element and the gate and including a latch engageable with the supporting element, when the gate is open, to latch the gate in open position, a releasing element pivotally mounted on the gate one end of which is associated with the track and whose other end is in alignment with the latch, said releasing element being normally inactive and being arranged to be actuated by said impact element, when the gate is open to move the releasing element into contact with the latch to release the same to permit the gate to close and means adapted to be contacted by the latch as the gate moves toward closed position to actuate the latch into contact with the releasing element, upon closing movement of the gate, to restore said releasing element to original, or inactive, position.

7. The combination with a gate post of a gate supporting element xed relative to the lower end of the post, a gate pivotally supported on said element and having a hinged connection with the upper end of the post whereby the gate may swing about an upright axis into open or closed position, a track on the gate, an impact body movable along the track, interlocking means carried by said supporting element and the gate and including a latch engageable with the supporting element, when the gate is open, to latch the gate in open position, a releasing element pivotally mounted on the gate one end of which is associated with the track and whose other end is in alignment with the latch, said releasing element being normally inactive and being arranged in the path of the impact element to be actuated by said impact element, when the gate is open to move the releasing element into contact with the latch to release the same to permit the gate to close, means arranged to be contacted by the latch to actuate the latch into contact with the releasing element, upon closing movement of the gate, to restore said releasing element to original,`

or inactive, position, said impact element being movable along the track to original, or inactive, position when the gate is closed.

8. The combination with a gate post, of a gate connected to the post to swing about an upright axis to open or closed position, means for automatically latching the gate open when the gate is moved to open position, said latching means comprising a ratchet element fixed in relation to the post and a latch on the gate arranged to cooperate with said ratchet element and means including a release element moveably supported on the gate and cooperable with said latch and a gravity actuated impact member movable along the gate, said release element being positioned in the path of said impact member and engageable by said member when said gate is opened to actuate said release element to release the latching means.

9. The combination with a gate post, of a gate connected to the post to swing about an upright axis to open or closed position, means for automatically latching the gate open when the gate is moved to open position, said latching means comprising a ratchet element fixed in relation to the post and a latch on the gate arranged to cooperate with said ratchet element, a release element pivoted on the gate and cooperable with said latch and an impact member mounted on the gate and movable by gravity, when the gate is open, said release element having a portion positioned in the path of said impact member and engageable by said member to actuate said release element to release said`latch.

LYLE C. TILE-URY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 241,727 Salisbury May 17, 1881 1,190,026 Slyeld July 4, 1916 1,452,014 Wolfe et al. Apr. 17, 1923 1,485,424 MunsloW Mar. 4, 1924 1,554,063 Barnett Sept. 15, 1925 2,086,061 Barr July 6, 1937 FOREGN PATENTS Number Country Date 14,044 Australia of 1928 

